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Mepps has field-tested nearly every natural and synthetic hair to replace the squirrel-tail hair it uses to make its hand-tied fishing lures. Bear, fox, coyote, badger, deer and cow hair have been tried, to no avail. The reason: Squirrel tails have no fur. They're all hair. Most other animals have fur tails with minimal guard hairs. Which is why Mepps has long encouraged squirrel hunters to send tails from their prey to Mepps to be used in construction of its lures. Details online at mepps.com.

Dennis Anderson